Layallette



(ModeL) V. LAVALLETTE.

' DRESS SHIELD Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

ATTORNEY.

HAM. PHOTO-Um!) WASMINGI'UN D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VIRGINIA LAYALLETTE, OF PHlLADELPIIIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRESS-SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,388, dated February25, 1896.

Application filed July 20, 1895. Serial No. 656,548. (ModeL) To (LZZzuhoin it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VIRGINIA LA'VALLETTE, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing in the city and countyof Pl1iladelphia,State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inDress-Shields, which improve ment is fully set forth in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a dress-shield having two or more frames, oneof which is proided with a top piece to which the other frame issecured, and a spring connected with said frames so as to separate thesame as the arm of the wearer is raised, whereby the shield maybe wornwith comfort, and its resistance due to frictional contact with thegarment, especially when wet with perspiration, is reduced, so that itsopening motion is eased, as will be hereinafter described.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a dress-shield embodying myinvention, part of the fabric or covering havingbeen removed. Fig. 2represents an edge view thereof. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view ofthe hinge and spring of the frame of the device on an enlarged scale.Fig. i represents a perspective view of another form of hinge and springthat may be employed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the support of the shield whichconsists of the frames B and O, the frame B having the concave top pieceD to accord with the armpit of the wearer, said frames being preferablyformed of wire.

The frame 0 has its central piece E con tinued into a coil F as a hinge,which embraces the top piece D, and has one end firmly secured thereto,forming a spring which serves to throw out the frame C from the frame B,it being noticed that the wires B B of the frame B extend laterally fromthe central wire B, and form a bifurcation, and that the wires C 'U ofthe frame 0 extend laterally from the central wire E and also form abifurcation, so that while the frames B C are composed of few piecesthey are wide and light in structure.

At the ends of the piece D are secured the safety shield or other pinsG, and at the bottom of the central piece I3 of the frame B is securedthe safety shield or other pin H. At the bottom of the frame C issecured a similar pin 0, said pins G, H, and C extending in eithervertical or horizontal directions, as shown in full and dotted lines.

The frames are connected with material or covering suitable for adress-shield, as shown at .I and K, the material K having been removedfrom Fig. l.

It will be seen that the shield may be attached to a garment on oppositesides of the armpit portion thereof, and as the arm is raised the frame0 is forced out by the spring F, and so follows the motion of the arm,overcoming the resistance usually occasioned by the covering-garment ofthe shield, especially when in wet condition due to perspiration. lVhenthe arm is lowered, the frame C is closed as usual.

In Fig. 4: I show the top cross-piece D, on which are mounted the arms Land M, each of which carries a frame, such as B or O, or similarconstruction.

The upper end of each arm has a coiled spring P, which is mounted on thecross-piece Das an axis, and serving to throw the frame and the coveringfabric or material in opposite directions.

The shield-pins may have one of the longitudinal sides of the sameproduced of portions of either of the respective pieces of the frames,said sides and portion being integral, a form of which is shown at theright-hand corner of Fig. 1.

The covering of the shield is secured to the frames in any suitablemanner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

. 1. A dress-shield formed of two frames each having a covering thereon,one of said frames having a curved top piece and the other having aspring connected with said top piece, said parts being combinedsubstantially as described.

2. A dress-shield consisting of two frames,

one of which has a curved top piece, andthe rating-spring connected Withsaid top piece other having a cross-piece with a spring atand the otherframe, substantially as and for tached to said curved top piece, andfasteningthe purpose set forth.

pins on said frames, said parts being combined VIRGINIA LAVALLETTE.

5 substantially as described. Witnesses:

3. A dress-shield provided with two frames, JOHN A. \VIEDERSHEIM,

one of the same having a top piece, and a sepa- A. P. JENNINGS.

